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USAO Channel to Carry Hero’s Funeral

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

To assist the Chickasha Fire Department in responding to large crowds anticipated for Thursday’s funeral of firefighter Destry Horton, the University of Science and Arts will host a live broadcast of the observance to four remote locations. The funeral is scheduled at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 30.

Local officials expect that Grand Assembly of God – where Horton served as worship leader – will be filled to capacity with hundreds of Horton family members, state and national officials, firefighters and emergency services workers. To accommodate crowds, four local churches have volunteered their auditoriums, where audiences will see the proceedings on large projection screens.

The auditorium of Trinity Church will receive the broadcast, but is reserved for emergency services personnel. Other sites include First Baptist Church, Epworth Methodist Church and College Heights Baptist Church, all open to the public.

In addition, the live broadcast can be seen by local cable subscribers on USAO Channel 18. Four Oklahoma City television stations are working in concert to produce the broadcast, segments of which may appear in their evening news programs: News Channel 4, KWTV-Channel 9, Fox 25, OETA. Cox Cable is providing technical assistance.

Fire Chief Ronnie Kessler expressed his gratitude for a supportive community that has raised more than $30,000 for the Horton family.

“The kindness of so many is overwhelming,” Kessler said. “We’ve had calls from all over the nation. It will be our profound honor on Thursday to welcome members of the New York City Fire Department – who lost so many in the World Trade Center disaster – to Chickasha as they pay their respects with us. Gov. Henry has indicated his intention to attend in the service, as well as many other state officials. We are profoundly humbled by the generosity of our community and the respect paid by so many across America. It makes me feel proud to know that the nation feels this way toward firefighters, especially my firefighters.”

Horton, 32, suffered massive injuries in a March 2 fire near Duncan. He died on March 24. (video)